Means for controlling the starting of internal combustion engines



June 6, 1933. H, TRAIL 912,669

MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE STARTING OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES IOrigifial Filed Oct. 50, 1,926

5 HERBERT HOQ/JTIO mm 'INVEN T0 R by "K Patented June 6, 1933 PATENTOFFICE HERBERT HOB-ATIO TRAIL, OI VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA,ASSIGNOB TO MOTOR DEVICES, INCORPORATED, OF CHIGAGO, ILLINOIS, ACORPORATION OF ILLINOIS mus Ion. CONTROLLING- THE STARTING or INTERNALoomros'rron mamas Refiled tor abandoned application Serial ll'o.145,273, filed October 80, 1 926. This application filed October 14,1929. Serial 116.39%650.

This invention relates to means for controlling the starting of internalcombustion engines, and more in particular to the type of internalcombustion engines which uses.an

electrical ignitionsystem, and also an electric' motor for the purposeof rotating the engine prior to its running. under its own power.

One object of my invention is to provide positive means for controllingthe electric cir cuit of a starting motor, automatically, upon manualoperation of means for energizing an ignition circuit.

v Another object of my invention is to provide positive means forcontrolling the electric circuit of a starting motor by manual operationof an ignition circuit controlling means from a de-energized to anenergized position.

A further object of my invention is to provide, by purely mechanicalmovements, positive automatic means to energize the circuit of anelectric starting motor to rotate an enly, the featuresof the invention,and the parts in their relative operative position.

Figure 2 is a somewhat diagra'mmatical view of certain modified featuresof the invention.

Figure '3 is a diagrammatical view of a manually operated switch in itsinoperative or off position.

Figure 4 is a*diagrammatical view of a manually. operated switch in itsintermediate position. v

Figure 5 shows switch co ponents in their relative positionsintermediate their on to off positions.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the severalviews.

The numeral 1 denotes an electric starting motor and 2 is a mechanicalstarting device having a pinion 3 mounted for axial movement on themotor shaft, and adapted to be automatically moved into and out ofdriving engagement with an engine gear, (not shown). A circular flangeor-weight 4 is gine until the engine runs under its own suitablyattached to the pinion 3 for the pur- 25 power, and positive meanscaused to deenergize and maintain de-energized, the circuit of thestarting motor while the engine is running under its own power.

Still another object of my invent-ion is to 30 provide positiveautomatic means to cause energizing and de-energizing of the'electriccircuit of a starting motor upon manual oper-. ation of means forenergizing an ignition circuit and means provided whereby the cir cuitof the starting motor is energized prior to the energizing of theignition circuit.

These objects'of my invention as well as others. together with the manyadvantages w thereof, will appear as I proceed with my specification. I

Referring to .the drawings which will illust-rate by way ofexample,convenient forms of the invention Figure 1 shows somewhatdiagrammaticalpose of increasing the inertia of the pinion and also toact as an'electric contact member,

as will later appear. I The periphery of said weight is smoothly formedand adapted to coact with the contact arm 5 which is suitably secured tothe housing 34 as by the screws 7 and insulated from it by thenonmetallic washers 6. The electro-ma et 9 is adapted to operate-thecontact mem er 10 into contact withkthe contacts 11 and 12. Theelectro-magnet is attached to the starting motor by such means as thecontact 12 being-suitably secured to the circuit post 30. Spring means,(not shown,) are adapted to biasor move the contact arm 10 out ofcontact with the contacts 11 and 12. A denotes a manually operableswitch which includes the movable contact arm '13, the movable .contactarm 14 and the insulating member 15 to which is suitably attached thecontact arms 13 and 14 in such a manner that they are in sulated onefrom the other. Thestationary contacts 16, 17 18 and 19 are suitablysecured to a stationary member in such a manner that they are insulatedone from the other, and arranged in the path of movement of the contactarms 13 and 14. The stationary ignition contact indicated at 21 is sosituated that when the switch is in its operative or on position thecontact arm 13 contacts with it and energizes the ignition circuit leadindicated at 27. The guard arm 20 is suitably secured to a stationarymember, and is spring formed and so arranged that when the switch isoperated from its inoperative or oil position to its operative or onposition, one end of the contact arm 13 is caused to be operated underthe guard arm 20 and in contact with the contact 19. hen the switch isoperated from its operative or on position to its inoperative or oilposition the contact arm 13 is caused to be operated over the guard arm20 and out of contact with the stationary contact 19. The switch A is soarranged as to have an inoperative or off position when the contactcomponents are in the relative positions as shown in Figure 3, andfurther arranged to have an operative or on position when the contactcomponents are in their relative positions as shown in Figures 1 and 2.Any suitable means may be employed to operate the movable contact arms13 and 14 to their respective on and off positions. 22 represents asource of electric current such as a battery. The leads 24, 25, 26, 27,28, 29, 36 and 23 are included in the electric circuits for controllingthe energizing of starting motor and ignition system of the engine to bestarted. The electro-magnet 9 with its winding 35 coacting with thecontact member 10 and the contacts 11 and 12 are for convenience in theform of a unit comprising an electro-magnetically operated switch andarranged in such a manner so as to control the energizingof the electricstarting motor circuit. i.

In operation, assuming that the respective components are in theirinoperative positions, the manually operated switch parts would be intheir respective positions as shown in Figure 3 which would be theinoperative or off position. Now referring to Figure 1, manual operationof the switch to its on position as shown in Figure 1 would cause thecontact arm 14 to come into contact with the stationary contacts 17 and18, while the contact arm 13 would come into and out of contact with thestationary contacts 16 and 19 and make and remain in contact with thestationary contacts 17, 18 and 21. This will cause current to flow fromthe battery 22' to the terminal 31 of the electro-magnetic switch by wayof lead 23 stationary contact 17 contact arm 14 stationary contact 18and lead 26 through the winding 35 to the terminal ing motor.

32, (and while the switch is in its interme diate position between itson and off positions, as shown in Figure 4,) to ground by way of lead 28stationary contact 16 contact arm 13 stationary contact 19 and lead 25.This completes the circuit and energizes the electro-magnetic switch 9which causes the contact arm 10 to make contact with the contacts 11 and12 thus closing a circuit for the starting motor 1, which causes currentto flow from the battery 22 to the starting motor by way of lead 24 toterminal 11 con- ,tact arm 10 contact 12and post 30, thus energizing thestarting motor. The energizin of the starting motor causes the pinion 3tod e moved axially from a position as shown in the dotted lines 8 tothe position as shown in full lines in Figure 1, when the circularweight 4 contacts with the contact arm 5, completes another circuit fromthe electromagnetic switch to ground by way of terminal 32 lead 28 lead29 contact arm 5 circular weight 4 pinion 3 and casing 33. This is forthe purpose of maintaining the circuit of the electro-magnetic switchclosed after the manually operated switch A has been moved from itsintermediate position as shown in Figure 3, to its on position as shownin Figure 1, when the circuit of the electromagnetic switch is opened byway of the lead 28 to stationary contact 16 as the contact arm 13 is nowout of contact with the stationary contacts 16 and 19. r In this mannerthe electro-magnetic switch is maintained energized until such time asthe engine to be started runs under its own power. Under such conditionsthe pinion 3 moves axially to the position as shown by the-dotted lines8 when the circular weight 4 is moved out of contact with the contactarm '5 thereby opening the circuit of the electro-magnetic switch 9.This will de-energize the starting motor, by allowing the contact arm 10to be moved out of contact with the contacts 11 and 12 by said springmeans (not shown) before mentioned thus opening the circuit of thestart- The starting motor is now positively maintained in a le-energizedcondition as the circuit of the elk-ctro-magnetic switch 9 is open bothby way f lead 28 and lead 29.

Upon operation of the switch A in a reverse direction from its operativeor on position to its oil or inoperative position, the ignition circuitindicated at 27, (which is caused to be energized when the switch is initson position,) is caused to be tie-energized by the contact arm 13being moved out of contact with the stationary contacts 17 and 21, andthe contact arm 13 is caused to be operated over the guard arm 20 thuspreventingthe contact arm 13 from contacting with the stationary contact19 and energizing the electromagnetic switch.

It will bethus noticed, that manual operation of the switch A from itsinoperative or off position to its operative or on position first closesthe circuit of the electro-magnetic switch by way of leads 23, 26, 28and to ground by way of lead and causes the initial energizing of thestarting motor to produce axial movement of the pinion. In this movementof said pinion the weight 4 contacts with the contact arm 5 to maintaina closed circuit for the electro-magnetic switch by way of leads 23, 26,and to ground by way of lead 28, 29, and contactarm 5, and also toenergize an ignitioncircuit by way of lead 23 contact arm 13 contact 21and lead 27 In the operation of the switch from its on to its offposition said switch'acts to de-energize the ignition circuit only,because when the engine to be started, commences to run under its ownpower, it causes the pinion 3 to inove axially into the dotted lineposition shown in Fig. 1. This moves the weight 4 out of contact withthe contact arm 5 thereby de-energizing the circuit of theelectro-magnetic switch. However should the'engine to be started fail to'start, the pinion 3 is not moved axially nor is the weight 4 moved outof contact with the contact arm 5, so that the circuit of theelectro-magnetic switch is not opened by way of lead 29 and contact arm5,

but is opened by the contact arm 14 being moved out of contact with thestationary contact 17 as shown in Figure 3. In this manner the completecircuit of the electro-magnetic switch is de-energized with thesingleexception of the lead 23.

In a modified form of the invention as shown in Figure 2 is will benoted that the stationary contact 18 is much shorter in length than thecorresponding contact 18 as shown in Figure 1 and the lead 36 isarranged in parallel circuit with lead 26 and is connected with thecontact 12. In operation,

upon movement of the switch A from its oil to its on position thecontact arm 13 momentarily contacts with the stationary contacts 16 and19, and the contact arm 14 contacts with the stationary contact 17 andmomentarily contacts with the stationary contact 18. This permitscurrent to flow from the battery 22 by way of lead 23 contact 17 to'theterminal 31 of the electromagnetic switch by way of contact arm 14,contact 18 and lead 26, through the winding of the electro-magneticswitch to terminal' 32 and to ground by way of lead 28. contact 16,contact arm 13, contact 19 and lead 25, thus closing the circuit of theelectromagnetic switch which closes the circuit of the starting motor.When the start ing. motor is thus energized it causes the pinion 3 to bemoved axially outward and this brings the weight 4 into contact with thecontact arm 5. Assuming by now that the switch A. is operated completelyto its operative or on position, thecontact arm 13 would then be out ofcontact with the contacts 16 and 19 and would be in contact withcontacts 17 and 21 thereby energizing the ignition circuit 27. Thecontact arm 14 wouldlead 29 and contact arm 5. In this manner theelectro-magnetic switch is maintained energized to cause the startingmotor to remain operative until the engine to be started runs under itsown power. When the engine is running under its own power, it overrunsthe pinion 3 and moves it and the weight 4 axially out of contact withthe contact arm 5. This opens the. circuit of the electro-magneticswitch which causes it to return to its normal inoperative'positionwherein the contact arm 10 is out of contact with the contacts 11 and 12thereby de-energizing the starting motor and the leads 36 and 26. Itwill be noted that the leads 26, 28, 29 and 36 are now positivelyautomatic means to cause the energizing and de-energizing of a startingmotor wherein positive mechanical movements are adapted to control theoperation of the automatic means and that should the automatic meansfail the energizing and de-energizing of the starting motor is. undermanual control of the operator.

The particular arrangements shown and described are by way ofillustration only which shows convenient forms of the invention, but itwill be understood that various modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

The term ofi position, as referred to throughout the specificationandclaims is intended to mean any position which would be considered anormal. inoperative position of the swich A which would maintain thecircuit of the electro-magnetic switch and the ignition circuitde-energized, and the term on position, referred to throughout thespecification and claims is intended to mean any position which would beconsidered switchto control an ignition circuit. and

adaptable for manual operation to off and fon positions, said switchincluding contacts adapted to be closed and opened intermediate said ofito on positions, a circuit including said electro-magnet and saidcontacts, and means whereby said circuit is closed and then openedduring operation of said switch from its off to its on position. I

2. In combination with an electric starting motor and a circuittherefor, an electromagnet adapted to control the motor circuit, aswitch to control an ignition circuit and adaptable for manual operationto oil and on. positions, said switch including contacts adapted to beclosed and opened intermediate said off to on positions, a circuitincluding said electro-magnet and said contacts. and means whereby saidcircuit is closed and then opened during operation of said switch fromits oil to its on position, and further means whereby when said switchis operated from its on to its off position the said circuit ismaintained open.

3. In combination with an electric starting motor and a circuittherefor, an electromagnet adapted to control the motor circuit, ofmanually operative means to control an ignition circuit. said meansadapted for operation to off and on positions, of 'electrical contactsadapted to be closed and then opened by said manually operative meanswhen operated from its off to its on position only, a starting deviceadapted to operate a circuit make and break device, and a circuitincluding said electro-magnet said electrical contacts and said circuitmake and break device.

4. In combination with an electric starting motor and a circuittherefor, an electromagnet adapted to control the motor circuit, ofmanuallv operative means adapted to control an ignition circuit, saidmeans arranged for operation to off and on positions. of electricalcontacts adapted to be operated by the said manually operative means. astarting device adapted to operate a circuit make and break device. acircuit including said electromaqnet. said electrical contacts and saidcircuit make and break device and a source of current. and means wherebyoperation of said manually operative means from its off to its onposition is caused to. momentarilv energize said electro-magnet and thesaid startin device is caused to close the said circuit make and breakdevice to maintain the said electro-magnet energized.

5. In combination with an electric starting motor for an engine, acircuit for said starting motor, electro-magnetic means for controllingthe starting motor circuit, a third c rcuit capable of being grounded ateither of two points so asto energize said electromagnetic means, amanually operable device for controlling an ignition circuit and movablefrom an oil to an"on' position, said device when moved partway towardsaid on position, closing said third circuit by grounding it at one ofsaid points so that said starting motor circuit is energized and lymovable pinion, a circuit for said starting motor, .electro-magneticmeans for controlling the starting motor circuit, a third circuitcapable of being grounded at either of two points so as to energize saidelectro-magnetic means, a manually operable device for controlling anignition circuit and movable from an off to an on position, said devicewhen moved partway toward said on position closing said third circuit bygrounding it at one of said points so that said starting motor circuitis energized and when moved completely into said on position, energizingsaid ignition circuit and breaking said ground connection at said onepoint, said pinion when said starting motor is energized, closing saidthird circuit by grounding it at the other of said points and operatingwhen said motor is engine driven, to break said ground connection atsaid other point to deenergize said third circuit to stop the start- 1ing motor. I

7. In combination with an electric starting motor for an engine, acircuit-for said starting motor, electro-magnetic means for controllingsaid starting motor circuit, a third circuit capable of being groundedat either of two points so as to be completed and thereby energize saidelectro-magnetic means, a switch for controlling an ignition circuit andmovable from an off to an on position through an intermediate positionand a contact operative when said switch is passing through saidintermediate position to provide one of said ground connections for saidthird circuit, the other of said ground connections being formed by thestarting motor when energized to maintain said third circuit closedafter said switch has passed beyond said intermediate position and hasreached said on position.

8. In combination with an electric starting "motor for an engine, acircuit for said starting motor, electro-rhagnetic means for conhand,this 8th day of October provide one of said ground connections for saidthird circuit, the other of said ground connections being formed by thestarting motor when ener zed to malntain said third circuit closed avter said switch has passed beyond said intermediate position and hasreached said on position, said starting mo-'-

